Tongue-support.



G. COPPOCK. TONGUE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 10, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

wammw CHARLES COPPOGK, OF FORT THOMAS, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

TONGUE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed March 10, 1908. Serial No. 420,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES COPPOOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Thomas, in the county of Graham and Territory ofArizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tongue-Supports,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tongue-supports for vehicles,the object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice of this nature for yieldingly supporting the tongue from thefront hounds and preventing the Weight of the tongue from falling uponthe necks of the draft animal, as well as to relieve the animals fromthe shocks and jars produced when the vehicle encounters obstructions inthe road.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support in the form ofa spring carried by the tongue to rest upon the hounds, said springbeing adjustable to vary its resistance to the downward movement ofthetongue and adapted to be readily applied to existing types oftongues; also to provide a support of this character which is light inweight, which will not interfere with the double trees or the load onthe vehicle and which may be allowed to remain in position when not inuse without detriment to the use of the vehicle.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a top planview showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the same.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the front axle, and 2the front hounds which are secured thereto in the usual way. The tongue3 extends between the hounds and is pivotally mounted upon a bolt 4.

Extending transversely across the upper and lower surfaces of the tongueare transverse clamping plates 5 and 6, the extended ends of which areformed with openings for the assage of screw bolts 7 arranged vertical yon opposite sides of the tongue.

These bolts are provided at their upper ends with eyes 8 forming keepersfor the reception and passage of the supporting spring 9. As shown, thespring consists of a metallic strap or leaf in the form of an invertedbow and resting at its ends upon the upper surfaces of the hounds 2.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the center of the underside of thespring is a stop piece 10 which is disposed between the eyes 8 of thebolts and serves to prevent endwise movement of the spring beyond alimited extent. The spring permits a vertical yielding movement of thetongue, while supporting the same in its normal operative position sothat its weight will be removed from the necks of the draft animals, thespring also absorbing all shocks and jars and preventing threshing ofthe tongue resulting from the passage of the wheels over obstacles orrough portions of the road. Nuts 11 engage the upper ends of the boltsand retain the upper clamping plate 5 in position, and similar nuts 12engage the lower ends of the bolts and retain the lower clamping platein position, thus securing the supporting spring in a strong and durablemanner to the tongue. By means of these nuts the bolts may be adjustedto regulate the pressure of the spring and to increase or diminish itsresistance to the downward movement of the tongue, as will be readilyunderstood.

It will be seen that the construction of the device is such as toefiiciently secure the objects sought to be obtained, and that thedevice may be readily applied to the tongues of vehicles already in use.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.A tongue support comprising upper and lower clamping plates, a pair ofparallel bolts extending through said clamping plates and provided attheir upper ends with eyes, a bowed spring extending through the eyes,means coacting with said eyes to limit the endwise movement of thespring, and sets of nuts upon the upper and lower ends of the bolts andbearing upon the respective clamp-- ing plates.

2. A tongue support comprising upper and 5 through said eyes, a stopmember upon the lower clamping plates, a pair ofverticalparallel boltsextending through said clamping plates and provided at their upper endswith eyes, a bowed supporting spring extendin endslo'f the bolts andbearingagainst the respective clamping'plates.

I "Intestimeny whereof I afiix my signature in presence ef twowitnesses.

I CHARLES COPPOCK.

spring between the eyes and adapted to} "Witnesses: limit the endwisemovement of the spring, FLORENCE ROSA, and sets of nuts upon the upperand lower 18. BARTON.

